Technical Program Manager – Recon Works

NODA AI; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

401(k) with company match

Equity grants

Unlimited PTO

Professional development

Job summary

NODA AI, Inc. is seeking a Technical Program Manager for Recon Works in Washington, DC. The role focuses on managing multiple projects, structuring execution, and guiding end-to-end technology delivery to prototype readiness.

You will own day-to-day operations and drive enduring programs like IP strategy and academic engagement, while navigating security clearance requirements and national-defense contexts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field.
• 5+ years of project or program management in a complex technical field.
• Hands-on experience in at least one complex technical field (e.g., autonomy, robotics, ML, aerospace).
• Demonstrated experience with structured, repeatable problem-solving.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; able to translate vision into executable plans.
• Experience standing up and driving adoption of new process frameworks or operating models from scratch.
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Drive ideas to working prototypes by managing end-to-end technology delivery including analysis, requirements, operations, testing.
• Design and lead the operations processes of the Recon Works team to support ongoing and temporary missions.
• Manage enduring programs including IP strategy, academic engagement, and technology roadmap.
• Identify relevant contract R&D opportunities and own the business development lifecycle for select S&T opportunities.
• Track, manage, and model IRAD spending.

Skills

Structured problem-solving

Communication skills

Project management

U.S. citizenship

Initiative/ownership

Education

B.S. in STEM

Job description

Technical Program Manager – Recon Works

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid on-site)
Travel: <25%
Clearance: U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance required

About NODA

NODA is a veteran-owned, venture-backed defense technology company building the orchestration layer for autonomous unmanned systems. Our platform coordinates fleets of heterogeneous vehicles across air, sea, and land for defense and intelligence customers. We expect every hire to be mission-driven with strong agency.

NODA Recon Works imagines the future of autonomous warfare, then builds it. We are a small team of multidisciplinary technical experts that scouts, analyzes, prototypes, and delivers de-risked technologies to integrate into our products or become new ones altogether.

Builders wanted for challenging journey. Fast pace, uncertain requirements, imaginative leaps expected, path to production sometimes doubtful. Defense of the free world in case of success.

The Role

As Technical Program Manager - Recon Works, you manage multiple projects and programs, structuring and managing execution to turn ideas into working prototypes. You will own the daily operations rhythm of the Recon Works team; initiate, execute, and close projects; and manage enduring programs such as our intellectual property portfolio or academic engagement. Recon Works needs your project management expertise and your technical advice to help meet its mission to invent the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive ideas to working prototypes by managing the team’s end-to-end technology delivery process including needs analysis, requirements definition, operations analysis, and test planning and execution (45%)

• Design and lead the operations processes of the Recon Works team to support its enduring and transient missions (20%)

• Manage enduring programs including but not limited to: intellectual property strategy and portfolio, academic engagement, technology roadmap, etc. (20%)

• Identify relevant contract R&D opportunities and own the business development lifecycle for select science and technology (S&T) opportunities (10%)

• Track, manage, and model internal research and development (IRAD) spending (5%)

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field

• 5+ years of project or program management in a complex technical field

• Hands-on experience in at least one complex technical field sufficient to provide input to IRAD decisions and speak credibly to S&T customers (e.g., autonomy, robotics, RF/EW, ML, aerospace)

• Demonstrated experience with structured, repeatable problem-solving

• Excellent verbal and written communication; able to synthesize and decompose strategic vision into clear executable plans

• Experience standing up and driving adoption of new process frameworks or operating models from scratch

• U.S. citizenship is required due to ITAR regulations, along with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree in a STEM field

• Direct test and evaluation experience

• Experience in product management or process improvement

• Existing TS/SCI clearance

• Experience writing and developing proposals for BAAs, SBIR/STTR, or OTAs

• Demonstrated success winning S&T contracts with relevant customers (DARPA, AFRL, DIU, ONR, etc.)

• Experience managing a patent portfolio or university research partnerships

Skills & Attributes

• Imagination and creativity: you view project and program management as an enabler to direct ideas into action, not as an end in itself

• Comfort with ambiguity: you use process and structure to manage ambiguity but are always ready to modify or drop it when the situation changes

• High agency: you don’t wait for explicit direction before acting

• Technical credibility: you know a lot about one technical domain and a bit about most others

• Communication: you can distill complex ideas into clear communication

Benefits & Perks

Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals + Company match

• Equity grants for new hires

• Unlimited PTO

• 11 Paid holidays

• Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November & December.

• Generous Parental Leave

• Military Leave for annual training or service requirements

• FSA

• DCFSA

• HSA

• Professional Development Opportunities

• Access to One Medical

• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Growth Path

Technical Program Manger → Senior Technical Program Manager → Deputy CTO

Export Control Compliance

To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Opportunity Statement

NODA AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace and to maintaining equitable employment and hiring practices. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

As a federal contractor, NODA AI complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity and affirmative action requirements, including Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the recruiting, hiring, and employment process.

Consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with applicable fair chance and ban-the-box laws, including the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance where applicable. We actively encourage qualified individuals of all backgrounds, including women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities, to apply.

NODA AI is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and accessible work environment for all applicants and employees. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [e-mail] or contact your recruiter so we can provide the support you need.